PANGULA Mannamurna is collecting out-of-date medical supplies to help treat animals affected by bushfires on Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills.
Native animal and stock populations have been decimated by the fires, including at Keilira near Kingston where hundreds of stock perished during last week’s blaze.
The Aboriginal community health organisation has registered as a drop-off centre for the Animal Rescue Collective, taking on expired medical supplies to support recovery efforts.
Items sought include gauze, bandages, burn creams and medical moisturizers, with donations to be distributed across the state.
Coordinating the Limestone Coast collection, Kail Williams and Stacey Balnaves joined the movement after viewing the bushfire devastation through social media.
“I was a part of the Blackfellows Cave Country Fire Service for many years,” Ms Williams said.
“Through that I was deployed to Victoria many years ago and saw first-hand the devastation they experience.
“It was a real eye opener.”
While no longer serving on the front line, Ms Williams said creating a collection point in the Blue Lake city was her way of assisting.
“Over the few days we have been registered many people have come in with their expired medical supplies which will go towards helping injured animals,” she said.
“As soon as people saw this they just started coming in and donating.”
Overwhelmed with phone calls and emails alike, Ms Williams said response from the Limestone Coast had been fantastic.
“There is nothing wrong with the supplies but they are out of date so they can no longer be used on people,” she said.
“But they are perfectly fine to be used on animals who are in dire need.”
Believing both the wildlife impacts and South Australian fires were not receiving their share of the national spotlight, Ms Williams has assured the donations will remain within the state.
“We are focusing on the Kangaroo Island and Adelaide Hills areas and will be dropping off some of the supplies to Adelaide next week,” she said.
“People have responded so well to it because we are a central location and it does not take much for people to just pop in on their way down the street and drop them in.”
Ms Williams said she had no doubt others would do the same if Mount Gambier was impacted.
“By donating goods people have a sense they are helping and there are a lot of people out there helping,” she said.
RSPCA South Australia has also launched a bushfire appeal to support the efforts of its staff and allied rescue organisations.
All funds raised will go directly towards animal rescue and care work taking place in the aftermath of the Adelaide Hills fires and amidst the ongoing Kangaroo Island fires.
Drop off points around the nation are available to view on the Animal Rescue Collective website.
